Gallstones advice and ideas

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So the doctor thinks i might have gallstones and I'm winding myself up into a right two and eight about it. I've already posted about this but prior to seeing the doctor. The problem is that I'm obsessively symptom watching and obsessing that I'm going to drop down dead at any moment. Clearly this needs to stop.

I've got a niggling ache most days and have had three more pronounced attacks in the last ten days. The first was severe (think labour). The subsequent two have been uncomfortable but manageable with a hot water bottle and pain relief. I should also say that i had a severe attack four years ago (a&e thought it was indigestion) and have had the occasional bout of discomfort (nothing worse than that) in the intervening years. The doctor has prescribed a high dose of ranitidine and buscopan and has referred me for a scan.

I need a bit of calm advice. What do I actually need to worry about (rather than cancer and dropping down dead from some sort of hideous infection)? What should I be watching for (in case anything more serious is on the cards)? Am I likely to be in pain every day until I get operated on (if that's what happens)? I'm currently frightened of eating and need to sort this out because I'm BFing. What an earth should I be eating? Will altering my diet reduce the risk of another severe attack?

And good news stories!

I know this pr

Sorry I posted too early. Complete post is next...

To avoid gallstone attacks you need to eat a very low fat bland diet no fried or fatty food.

Although the pain from attacks can be very bad you wont die, but if it gets unbearable go to casualty.

I had my gall bladder removed last June.

Different people react in different ways. Some people find that eating fatty foods sets of an attack, however most people find that diet has little to do with it. I would recommend following a healthy diet and don't restrict your fat intake unless you find that fatty foods cause pain. If you find that fatty foods do make your symptoms worse try to reduce your intake of saturated fats by cutting down on cakes, chocolates, crisps etc, switching to low fat dairy foods and choosing lean meats, not eating the visible fat and grilling where possible. Try to use olive oil in cooking and eat oily fish if you can tolerate it so you are still getting the healthy fats important for your health and your babies.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

I've had mine for around 20 years, probably longer but that's when they were first diagnosed..so stop worrying about the dying thing for a start ;-)

I went crazy on a no-fat diet for a while but no obvious change happened for me. I did, however, stop having the pains once I really concentrated on relaxing and deep breathing. You'll get different ideas from having a search around on t'internet.
One thing I find helps when it's really painful is sipping a mug of boiled water with bicarbonate of soda in it.

Gallstones are usually diagnosed by an ultrasound scan - has your GP referred you for one of these?

My DH had this recently - diet does need to be ultra low fat if it is gallstones. You can pass some of the gallstones but they can get stuck in a tube and this may be the cause of the 'pronounced attacks'. DH was very jaundiced, and they will tell you to watch out for the pain moving to a different place if it's a definite diagnosis.

DH existed on a rotating diet of prawns, turkey breast and chicken breast. He had his gallbladder removed and has been fine since. But the ultrasound scan would show if there were any stones. Hope the pain eases ASAP, it's hideous!